Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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644. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the degree to which higher education costs have increased/decreased over the past number of years; the extent of financial assistance now available for all students seeking to avail of third-level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40294/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I am very much aware that the rising cost of living continues to impact students, as highlighted by data sources such as the Consumer Price Index and the Eurostudent Survey, in which monthly expenditure was reported by respondents as €1340, up from €1135 in the previous survey.

The Government, through successive budgets, has sought to reduce the cost of higher education including through improvements to the student grant scheme.

For the first time ever, a new part-time fee grant scheme came into effect in September 2024 for specified undergraduate courses. This new scheme will open the doors of higher education to many groups who cannot participate in full time programmes.

I have in Budget 2025 also ensured that measures to support students have formed a core part of the Government's overall response to cost of living issues.

The following immediate once-off measures will benefit current students:-

• I have reduced the student contribution fee by €1,000 which is estimated to benefit c.103,000 higher education students who are eligible for the free fees initiative,
• I have also increased the postgraduate fee contribution grant from €4,000 to €5,000 for c. 2000 students.
• A once off 33% reduction to the student fee for 14,000 apprentices attending higher education institutes.
• A once off additional €10 million for the Student Assistance Fund.

• I am increasing the special rate of maintenance threshold from €26,200 to €27,400 in line with Social Welfare increases.
• I am increasing all other maintenance and student contribution grant thresholds by 15%
• I am also increasing the postgraduate fee contribution threshold and the part-time fee scheme threshold to match the new 100% Student Contribution threshold which will now be €64,315.

• Allowing certain cohorts of people to apply for the grant by extending the list of approved immigration permissions;
• Ensuring that the first €5000 of any scholarship received by a student will not be included as income in the grant means test; and,
• A measure to align the treatment of fee scholarships.